Apparatus in a spinning room for transporting a can-less fiber sliver package

ABSTRACT

In an apparatus in a spinning room for transporting a can-less fibre sliver package between a sliver-delivering spinning machine, for example a draw frame, or a storage means and a further processing device or a further storage means, having a support for receiving the can-less fibre sliver package, the support being substantially unenclosed, the support and the can-less fibre sliver package are transportable in common. In order to effect simple transport of the can-less fibre sliver package, the support for receiving the at least one fibre sliver package can be brought to the sliver-delivering spinning machine or to the storage means and, after the package has been received, the support, together with the stably positioned fibre sliver package, can be supplied to the further processing device or to the further storage means.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of German Patent Application No. 102006 012 484.7 dated Mar. 16, 2006. This application is additionally acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/247,276, filed Oct.12, 2005, which application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/350,016, filed Jan. 24, 2003, (now abandoned),the latter application claiming priority from German Patent ApplicationNo. 10205061.9 filed Feb. 7, 2002, which priority is also claimed in thepresent application. The contents of all of the foregoing applicationsare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an apparatus in a spinning room fortransporting a can-less fibre sliver package between a sliver-deliveringspinning machine, such as a draw frame, or a storage means and a furtherprocessing device or a further storage means. In earlier U.S.application Ser. No. 10/350,016, there was disclosed an apparatus havinga support for receiving the can-less fibre sliver package, the supportbeing substantially unenclosed, and in which the support and thecan-less fibre sliver package are transportable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of the present invention to improve such an apparatus tothe effect that the transport of the can-less fibre sliver package iseffected in a simple manner.

The invention provides an apparatus for a spinning room for transportinga fibre sliver package comprising a support for receiving a can-lesssliver package, the support being substantially unenclosed, wherein thesupport is transportable to a sliver package delivery station selectedfrom a sliver-delivering machine and a first sliver package storagestation for receiving at least one sliver package, the support with saidat least one sliver package is transportable to a sliver packagereceiving station selected from a sliver package receiving stationselected from a sliver-fed machine and a further sliver package storagestation; and the apparatus is so arranged that the at least one sliverpackage is stably positioned during transport thereof.

Because the can-less fibre sliver packages are seated on the support insuch a way that they are stably positioned, reliable transport of the atleast two fibre sliver packages to a downstream processing machine or toa storage means is ensured. A special advantage is that on a sliver-fedspinning machine the feed material in the form of a package can betransferred from the support directly into the feed positions providedat the spinning positions. The fibre material is likewise stablypositioned at the feed positions.

Preferably, the support is a transport pallet.

Advantageously, the fibre sliver package is displaceable (unloadable)from said sliver package delivery station onto a said support.Advantageously, after the displacement (unloading) of a fibre sliverpackage onto the support, the support is movable in the lateraldirection for receiving a further fibre sliver package.

Advantageously, more than one fibre sliver package is displaceable(unloadable) onto the support. Advantageously, the number of fibresliver packages, preferably 3, 4, 6 or 8, on the support, for example atransport pallet, corresponds to the number of fibre sliver packages tobe supplied to the downstream processing device.

Advantageously, the support is associated with a supporting element, forexample a supporting wall, mounted on one side. Advantageously, thesupporting element is associated with a side face of the first deposited(unloaded) fibre sliver package. Advantageously, the supporting elementis in fixed position. Advantageously, the supporting element is mountedon the support, for example a transport pallet. Advantageously, thesupporting element is in the form of walls, rods, transport belts or thelike. Advantageously, the supporting element consists of, or is coatedwith, a material that promotes sliding. Advantageously, the supportingelement, for example a supporting wall or the like, is inclinable, or isinclined by about from 5 to 10°. Advantageously, the support isinclinable or is inclined by an angle preferably of from 5 to 10°.

Advantageously, the support has on its underside insertion openings fortransport apparatus and/or for coupling to transport apparatus, forexample fork-lift trucks. Advantageously, the support has slots, guidemeans or the like into which the driver elements, forks or the like areable to enter.

Advantageously, after deposition of a fibre sliver package on thesupport, for example a transport pallet, the support is displaceabletransversely by lateral movement to receive the next fibre sliverpackage. Advantageously, on the support there is, as required, at leastone empty storage position for a fibre sliver package or at least onestorage position having a fibre sliver package.

Advantageously, there is in each case an empty storage position ontowhich a fibre sliver package is displaceable (unloadable) and/or atleast one reserve storage position for deposited fibre sliver packagesand/or at least one empty storage position for a fibre sliver package tobe displaced (unloaded). Advantageously, the support, for example atransport pallet, provided (loaded) with deposited fibre sliver packagesis exchangeable for a support provided with empty storage positions.Advantageously, the support, for example a transport pallet, provided(loaded) with deposited fibre sliver packages is movable out of thedischarge region of a sliver package delivery station by displacement,for example horizontal pushing. Advantageously, an empty support, forexample a transport pallet, is movable into the discharge region bydisplacement, for example horizontal pushing.

Advantageously, a support, for example a transport pallet, provided(loaded) with deposited fibre sliver packages is transportable to afurther textile machine, for example a spinning machine, or to amagazine. The transport may be effected manually, for example by meansof a fork-lift truck. Advantageously, the transport is effected by atransport apparatus. The transport apparatus may be track-guided, forexample by means of an induction loop, or rail-guided. The transportapparatus may instead be freely movable.

Advantageously, the support provided (loaded) with deposited fibresliver packages is positionable directly on a transport apparatus. Thetransport apparatus may be a wagon or the like. The transport apparatusmay be a fork-lift truck or the like. Advantageously, the transportapparatus is drivable back and forth by means of drive means, forexample a drive motor. Advantageously, the fibre sliver package isdisplaceable (unloadable) into a press, for example a bale press.Advantageously, the displacement is effected by pushing.

Advantageously, the sliver ends of the fibre sliver packages arejoinable to one another. Advantageously, the sliver ends of the fibresliver packages are positioned for joining. For example, the sliver endsmay be joinable to one another manually, or by means of a device.Advantageously, in the case of fibre sliver packages that are arrangedone next to the other, the sliver end of the lowermost layer of onefibre sliver package is joinable to the sliver end of the uppermostlayer of the other (adjacent) fibre sliver package. Advantageously, byjoining together the sliver ends, a single total fibre sliver packageconsisting of a plurality of individual fibre sliver packages can becreated.

Advantageously, the apparatus is a can-less apparatus. Advantageously,in respect of the fibre sliver package the discharge out of the machineand/or the transport to a subsequent processing device or a storagemeans is effected without cans, containers or the like. Advantageously,the deposited fibre sliver (sliver bundle) is movable by mechanicalmeans, which effects the displacement of the fibre sliver (sliverbundle) out of the discharge region without additional cans, containersor the like. Advantageously, the mechanical means is a pressure device,for example a pusher or the like. Advantageously, the fibre sliver isdepositable in ring form. Advantageously, the sliver bundle is movablehorizontally.

Advantageously, the fibre sliver package is transferred out of thedischarge region of a sliver package delivery station onto the support.Advantageously, the support for the fibre sliver package is associatedwith a transport arrangement, for example a suspended conveyor or thelike. Advantageously, the fibre sliver package is displaceable jolt-freeor almost jolt-free. Advantageously, the alteration in the speed of thedisplacement device on the acceleration and braking paths takes placesubstantially continuously (steplessly). Advantageously, thedisplacement device is associated with a controllable drive device, forexample a drive motor. Advantageously, the controllable drive device isconnected to an electronic open-loop and closed-loop control device.Advantageously, the driven displacement device is able to effect stabledisplacement of the fibre sliver package. Preferably, the fibre sliverpackage is can-less.

Advantageously, the fibre sliver package is elongate in cross-section.Advantageously, the supporting wall or the like and/or the side elementis inclinable or inclined about a horizontal axis. Advantageously, thefibre sliver package is displaceable onto and/or off the support in astably supported state. Advantageously, the fibre sliver package issupportable at the centre of gravity or above the centre of gravity.

Advantageously, the support and the supporting element are approximatelyL-shaped. Advantageously, the support can be elevated on the side remotefrom the supporting element. Advantageously, a pneumatic cylinder or thelike can be used for elevation. Advantageously, said elevation is ableto effect inclination of a fibre sliver package against the supportingelement and/or against a further fibre sliver package, therebytransferring the sliver package into a stable position.

Advantageously, there is a drive device for displacing the receivingsupport surface. Advantageously, the drive device has a toothed belt andtoothed belt wheels. Advantageously, the drive device comprises apneumatic cylinder or the like. Advantageously, the support is astandard pallet.

Advantageously, a number of fibre sliver packages appropriate to furtherprocessing is transportable together on the support, for example atransport pallet. Advantageously, a transport device is provided for thecommon transport of the support, for example a transport pallet, and atleast one stably positioned fibre sliver package. Advantageously, aplurality of processing devices, for examples machines, and/or storagemeans can be served by a rail- or track-guided transport device.Advantageously, the processing devices, for example machines, and/orstorage means are so positioned that they are arranged along a commonpath for the transport device. Advantageously, the transport of thesupport to a storage device is effected.

Advantageously, the transport of the support to feed positions(unwinding positions) provided on the further processing machines iseffected. The feed position may be, for example, the lattice (feedtable) of a draw frame, of a flyer, or of a combing preparation machine.The feed position may be, for example, the spinning position of aspinning machine (direct spinning). Advantageously, the transport of thesupport to a press for compression of the fibre sliver package iseffected.

Advantageously, the fibre sliver packages are provided with anidentification mark, for example a barcode, colour marker or the like.The identification mark may relate to, for example, the productionconditions, the fibre material quality, or test values. Theidentification mark advantageously allows a mixture of fibre sliverpackages to be assembled at the feed positions. Preferably, the assemblyof fibre sliver packages to form a mixture can be effected atpredetermined positions of the feed positions.

The invention also provides an apparatus in a spinning room fortransporting a can-less fibre sliver package between a sliver-deliveringspinning machine, for example a draw frame, or a storage means and afurther processing device, especially a sliver-fed spinning machine, ora further storage means, having a support for receiving the can-lessfibre sliver package, the support being substantially unenclosed, and inwhich the support and the can-less fibre sliver package aretransportable together, wherein the support can be brought to thesliver-delivering spinning machine or to the storage means to receivethe at least one fibre sliver package and, after the package has beenreceived, the support, together with the stably positioned fibre sliverpackage, can be supplied to the further processing device or to thefurther storage means.

Furthermore, the invention provides a textile processing installation,comprising

at least one sliver delivering machine, at least one sliver receivingmachine and a transport arrangement for transporting fibre sliverpackages from the sliver delivering machine to the sliver receivingmachine,

the transport arrangement comprising a support for receiving at leastone fibre sliver package, the support having a lateral member againstwhich at least a sliver package adjacent to the lateral member can beinclined, wherein, during transport, at least one fibre sliver packageon the support is stably supported against the lateral member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail below with referenceto the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 a is a diagrammatic side view of an exemplary draw frameincorporating an exemplary apparatus according to the present invention,using a support plate for depositing fibre sliver in the form of acan-less fibre sliver package, in one end position beneath the rotaryplate;

FIG. 1 b shows the exemplary apparatus according to FIG. 1 a but in theother end position beneath the rotary plate;

FIG. 2 shows the exemplary apparatus according to FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, butoutside the sliver delivery device;

FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, and 3 c show a plan view (FIG. 3 a), a side view (FIG. 3b), and a front view (FIG. 3 c), of the can-less fibre sliver packagedeposited on the support plate;

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus according to theinvention with a block circuit diagram comprising an electronic controland regulation device, to which there are connected a controllable drivemotor for the horizontal displacement device of the support plate, acontrollable drive motor for the vertical displacement device of thesupport plate and a controllable drive motor for the rotary plate;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the outlet region of an exemplary drawframe having a support plate and a can-less fibre sliver package in thesliver-depositing area;

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show an exemplary embodiment of the support plate withthrough-openings for cone-shaped fixing elements in the engaged position(FIG. 6 a) and in the disengaged position (FIG. 6 b);

FIG. 7 a shows an exemplary embodiment of the support plate withgroove-shaped recesses;

FIGS. 7 b and 7 c show the support plate according to FIG. 7 a withlifting elements for the fibre sliver package, lowered out of engagement(FIG. 7 b) and raised into engagement (FIG. 7 c);

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the outlet region of the dischargeregion downstream of the draw frame, with a support plate and a can-lessfibre sliver package above a transport pallet;

FIG. 8 a is a perspective view of the discharge region according to FIG.8 viewed towards the supporting wall on the transport pallet;

FIG. 8 b is a perspective view of an exemplary device for causing adischarged sliver package to adopt an inclined position;

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary storage device with a conveyor belt, on whichthere are arranged one after the other—in each case with an inclinedsupporting wall—an empty transport pallet, a transport pallet partiallyloaded with fibre sliver packages, and a transport pallet fully loadedwith fibre sliver packages;

FIGS. 10 a to 10 e show diagrammatic plan views of the discharge of acan-less fibre sliver package onto a transport pallet;

FIG. 10′ is a front view of a portion of the arrangement shown in FIG.10 c;

FIG. 11 shows four can-less fibre sliver packages arranged one next tothe other on a transport pallet, the respective sliver ends of thelowermost and uppermost layers of adjacent fibre sliver packages beingjoined to one another;

FIG. 12 shows a transport pallet inclined transversely with respect tothe direction of the longitudinal axes of the fibre sliver packages on afork-lift truck, the forks engaging under the transport pallettransversely with respect to the longitudinal axes;

FIG. 13 shows a transport pallet inclined transversely with respect tothe direction of the longitudinal axis of the fibre sliver packages, theforks of a fork-lift truck engaging under the transport pallet in thedirection of the longitudinal axes of the fibre sliver packages;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary system having six drawframes, two transport vehicles and a press for can-less fibre sliverpackages;

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary draw frame having anupstream feed table (lattice), on which there are eight (independent)can less fibre silver packages on two transport pallets;

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary draw frame having anupstream feed table on which there are located eight can-less fibresliver packages on eight respective transport pallets;

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary system having a pluralityof flat cards, each with a flat card drafting system, a plurality ofstorage means for can-less fibre sliver packages, having a plurality ofsupports for transporting can-less fibre sliver packages inside thesystem, transport vehicles and a plurality of spinning machines (directspinning);

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic side view of an exemplary flat cardincorporating an exemplary apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic side view of an exemplary flyer incorporatingan exemplary apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic plan view of an exemplary combing preparationmachine incorporating an exemplary apparatus according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic plan view of an exemplary combing machineincorporating an exemplary apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. Indescribing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake ofclarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to thespecific terminology so selected. While specific exemplary embodimentsare discussed, it should be understood that this is done forillustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art willrecognize that other components and configurations can be used withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. All referencescited herein are incorporated by reference as if each had beenindividually incorporated.

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show an exemplary draw frame 1, for example, aTrützschler draw frame TD 03. A plurality of fibre slivers, coming froman upstream lattice (feed table), enter a drafting system 2, are draftedtherein and, after the outlet of the drafting system 2, are combined toform a fibre sliver 12. The fibre sliver 12 passes through a rotaryplate 3 and is then deposited in rings on a base which moves back andforth in the direction of arrows A and B to form a can-less fibre sliverpackage 5. Support plate 4 can have, for example, a rectangular top face4 ₁. Referring to FIG. 4, the support plate 4 can be driven by acontrollable drive motor 6 which is connected to an electronic controland regulation device 7, for example, a machine controller. Referringback to FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, reference numeral 8 denotes a cover sheet of thesliver-depositing device which is adjoined by the rotary plate panel 9.K denotes the working direction (flow of fibre material) inside the drawframe 1, while the fibre sliver is delivered by the rotary plate 3substantially in the vertical direction. Reference numeral 10 denotesthe depositing area, reference numeral 11 denotes the region outside thedepositing area 10. The depositing area 10 for the fibre slivercomprises the region g in accordance with FIG. 1 b. The support plate 4is moved horizontally back and forth beneath the rotary plate 3 whilethe fibre sliver 12 is being deposited. FIG. 1 a shows one end positionand FIG. 1 b shows the other end position of the support plate 4 whichmoves back and forth horizontally in directions A, B beneath the rotaryplate 3 during deposition of the fibre sliver 12. The fibre sliverpackage 5 is moved back and forth, corresponding to directions A, B, inthe direction of arrows C, D beneath the rotary plate 3. Once the endposition shown in FIG. 1 a has been reached, the support plate 4 travelsin the direction of arrow A, the support plate 4 being accelerated,driven at a constant speed and then braked. Once the end position shownin FIG. 1 b has been reached, the support plate 4 travels back in thedirection of arrow B, the support plate 4 being accelerated, driven at aconstant speed and then braked. Switching-over between the back andforth movements is effected by the control device 7 in conjunction withthe drive motor 6 (see FIG. 4).

The variable-speed electric motor 6 drives the support plate 4 at ajolt-free or nearly jolt-free speed. In particular, the acceleration andthe braking are jolt-free or nearly jolt-free. The speed betweenacceleration and braking is constant. By that, it is meant that thefibre sliver package 5 remains stable both during the back and forthmovement in the depositing area 10 according to FIGS. 1 a and 1 b andduring the movement out of the depositing area 10 according to FIG. 2.The movements are so controlled that the production rate achieved is ashigh as possible, without the fibre sliver package 5 (sliver bundle)slipping or even tipping over.

While the fibre sliver 12 is being deposited, the control device 7 (seeFIG. 4) controls the back and forth movement of the support plate 4 inorder to produce a stable can-less fibre sliver package 5. In accordancewith one exemplary embodiment, the rotary plate 3 rotates in a fixedposition and deposits the fibre sliver 12 on the support plate 4 at asubstantially constant deposition force. The constant delivery force isachieved, among other factors, by delivery of a constant amount of fibresliver 12 per fibre material layer of the fibre sliver 12. If, forexample, the rotary plate 3 deposits fibre sliver 12 on the supportplate 4 or on top of already deposited fibre sliver rings, each layer offibre sliver rings receives a substantially constant amount of fibresliver 12 either during the forward movement or during the backwardmovement. Because the amount of fibre sliver 12 per layer is constant,stability of the fibre sliver package 5 is achieved.

The amount by which the support plate 4 moves back and forth is alsocontrolled by the increasing stability of the fibre sliver package 5.Whenever the support plate 4 reaches the turn-round point of either theforward or backward movement, the control means 7 brakes the supportplate 4, the support plate 4 reaching a border region 402 a or 402 b(see FIGS. 3 a, 3 b) of the fibre sliver package 5, and accelerates thesupport plate 4 whenever the support plate 4 leaves the border region402 a or 402 b. Between the border regions 402 a and 402 b on each sideof the fibre sliver package 5, the control means 7 controls the supportplate 4 at a constant speed. The border region 402 a or 402 b is thelocation at each end of the fibre sliver package 5 where the fibresliver rings deposited on the support plate 4 do not completely overlapone another.

The border region 402 a or 402 b can be located shortly before theturn-round point of the movement of the support plate 4 at each end ofthe fibre sliver package 5. In contrast, in the non-border region 404,either during the forward or return movement of the support plate 4, therearward edge of each fibre sliver ring is also arranged from above onthe forward edge of the previously deposited fibre band ring.

With regard to the small amount of fibre sliver that is deposited in theborder region 402 a or 402 b, the control device 7 brakes the supportplate 4 so that more fibre sliver 12 can be deposited in the borderregion 402 a or 402 b and accelerates the support plate 4 to a constantspeed in the non-border region 404. The braking of the support plate 4results in an increase in the amount of fibre sliver deposited in theborder region 402 a or 402 b, because the rotary plate 3 delivers thefibre sliver 12 at a constant rate irrespective of the movement of thesupport plate 4. Whenever the support plate 4 is braked, more fibresliver 12 can be deposited at that point, which corresponds to thenon-overlapping fibre sliver rings close to the turn-round points. Thenon-uniform speed of the support plate 4 allows a substantially uniformamount of fibre sliver 12 which is deposited in both border regions 402a and 402 b and in the non-border region 404 (FIGS. 3 a, 3 b) of thefibre sliver package 5 for each layer of fibre sliver 12 during the backand forth movement of the support plate 4. The non-uniform speed of thesupport plate 4 results in a substantially uniform density of fibresliver 12 at all points of the fibre sliver package 5. The uniformdensity of the fibre sliver 12 enables the fibre sliver package 5 to beformed stably on the support surface 4 and allows the fibre sliverpackage 5 to be accelerated and braked forwards and backwards, avoidingthe possibility of the can-less laterally unsupported fibre sliverpackage 5 becoming unstable or at risk of tipping over.

After the deposition of the fibre sliver package 5 on the surface 4 iscomplete, as shown in FIG. 2, the support plate 4, together with thefibre sliver package 5, moves out of the sliver delivery device in thedirection of arrow I. The control means 7 controls the movement of thesupport plate 4 so that a switch-over is made from the back and forthmovement (arrows A, B) for the sliver deposition to the outward movement(arrow I) out of the depositing area 10 into the discharge region 11.

FIG. 3 a shows a plan view of a ring-shaped fibre sliver package 5 whichhas been deposited freely on the top face 4 ₁ of the support plate 4.FIG. 3 b shows a side view of the fibre sliver package 5 which isarranged freely on the support plate 4. FIG. 3 c shows a front view ofthe fibre sliver package 5, which has been positioned freely on thesupport plate 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 a to 3 c, the fibre sliver package5 is formed from fibre sliver rings stacked in a substantiallyrectangular shape. The rectangular shape of the fibre sliver package 5is created by the way in which the fibre sliver 12 has been deposited.The rotation of the rotary plate 3 by which the fibre sliver 12 isdelivered forms a layer of overlapping rings of fibre sliver 12 on areceiving surface 4 ₁ of the support plate 4, and the back and forthmovement of the support plate 4 under the control of the control device7 establishes the locations at which the fibre sliver rings are formedon the receiving surface 4 ₁. The movement of the support plate 4 hasthe effect that the deposited fibre sliver rings are arranged on thereceiving surface 4 ₁ of the support plate 4 staggered relative to oneanother and partly overlapping one another, which creates thesubstantially rectangular shape of the fibre sliver package 5, seen inplan view. At each end of the fibre sliver package 5, caused by thechange in the direction of the back and forth movement of the supportplate 4, the fibre sliver package 5 has rounded ends to the rectangularshape, as FIG. 3 a clearly shows. The rectangular shape of the fibresliver package 5 is advantageous, because, as compared with conically orcylindrically shaped fibre sliver packages, it promotes the stability ofthe fibre sliver package 5.

FIG. 3 a shows a plan view of the fibre sliver 12 of the fibre sliverpackage 5 deposited in a ring arrangement. FIGS. 3 b and 3 c show inside view and in front view, respectively, the fibre sliver package 5standing freely, that is to say without a can, container or the like, onthe upper face 4 ₁ of the support plate 4. In respect of the dimensionsof the fibre sliver package 5, the length according to FIG. 3 a isdenoted by reference letter a, the width according to FIG. 3 c byreference letter b and the height according to FIG. 3 c by referenceletter c. With regard to the dimensions of the support plate 4, thelength according to FIG. 3 a is denoted by reference letter d, the widthaccording to FIG. 3 a by reference letter e and the height according toFIG. 3 c by reference letter f. Reference numeral 5 ₅ (FIG. 3 a) denotesthe upper face, reference numeral 5 ₁ (FIG. 3 b) a long side face andreference numeral 5 ₃ (FIG. 3 c) a short end face of the substantiallycuboidal fibre sliver package 5 which is of substantially rectangularcross-section. The other long side face 5 ₂, the other short end face 5₄ and the base surface 5 ₆ are not shown.

According to FIG. 4, there is shown an electronic control and regulationdevice 7, for example, a machine controller. The electronic control andregulation device 7 can be connected to a controllable drive motor 6 forthe horizontal displacement of the support plate 4, a controllable drivemotor 13 for the vertical displacement of the support plate 4, and acontrollable drive motor 14 for the rotary plate 3. A raising andlowering device is mounted on a carriage 20, which raising and loweringdevice consists of a framework, guide rollers 18 a, 18 b, and a flexibletransport element, which can be moved in the direction of arrows L andM. The vertically displaceable support plate 4 (see arrows E, F in FIG.1 a) includes two driver elements 15 a, 15 b. Those driver elements 15a, 15 b, which are arranged on the opposite narrow sides of the supportplate 4, rest on support elements 16 a, 16 b, which are attached toperpendicularly arranged flexible transport elements, for exampletoothed belts 17 a, 17 b circulating around toothed belt wheels. One ofthe guide rollers 18 a is driven by a motor 13. The motor 13 is in theform of a reversible motor, which can run at different speeds and inboth directions of rotation. On arrival of an empty support plate 4, thedriver elements 15 a, 15 b lie on the support elements 16 a, 16 blocated at the bottom, so that upward displacement of the supportelements 16 a, 16 b brings about an upward movement of the driverelements 15 a, 15 b and accordingly of the support plate 4. Thetransport elements 16 a, 16 b are attached, for example, by means ofholding elements 19 a, 19 b of the framework, to the carriage 20, whichis moved horizontally back and forth in the direction of arrows O, P bya circulating transport element 21, for example a toothed beltcirculating around toothed belt wheels.

The rotary plate 3 held by the fixed rotary plate panel 9 deposits fibresliver 12 on the support plate 4, the resulting fibre sliver package 5standing on the support plate 4 and being moved back and forth in thedirection of arrows A, B (see FIG. 1 a). During the ongoing fibre sliverdeposition, the upper fibre sliver rings of the fibre sliver package 5are constantly in contact with the underside 9 a of the rotary platepanel 9. The deposited fibre sliver 12 of the fibre sliver package 5presses against the underside 9 a and against the lower cover face 3 aof the rotary plate 3. In order that a pre-determined constant pressingforce is exerted vertically on the deposited fibre sliver 12, thecontrol and regulation device 7 regulates the speed of the motor 13 sothat the force exerted by the uppermost layer of the fibre sliver 12remains constant. In other words, the speed of the motor 13 is such thatthe rate (amount) of downward movement of the support elements 16 a, 16b, which are attached to the flexible transport elements 17 a, 17 b, inconjunction with the speed of fibre sliver deposition by the rotaryplate 3 driven by the motor 14 ensures uniform compression of the fibresliver 12 in each height position of the downwardly moving support plate4. After each stroke g (see FIG. 1 b) in the horizontal direction, thesupport plate 4 is displaced downwards by a pre-set amount. This pre-setamount can correspond to the thickness of a single layer of the fibresliver. The can-less fibre sliver package 5 is pressed against the lowerfaces 9 a and 3 a of the rotary plate panel 9 and the rotary plate 3during the horizontal back and forth movement as a consequence of theresilience inherent in the fibre sliver 12 and as a consequence of thepressing force of the displaceable support plate 4. The fibre sliverpackage 5 is accordingly stabilized actively and passively during thehorizontal back and forth movement.

FIG. 4 shows the carriage 20 with the holding devices 19 a, 19 b. Theholding elements 19 a, 19 b hold two belts 17 a, 17 b, which are able tomove the support plate 4 upwards or downwards in the direction of arrowsL, M. The can-less fibre sliver package 5 is arranged on the top face 4₁ of the support plate 4. During fibre sliver deposition, the supportplate 4 is moved back and forth in the direction of arrows A, B (seeFIGS. 1 a and 1 b). Once each corresponding end position has beenreached, the support plate 4 is displaced downwards in direction E (FIG.1 a) by less than the thickness of a fibre sliver, for example, 10 mm,with the aid of the drive motor 13, in order to create a substantiallyconstant space (or room) for the next layer of fibre sliver material tobe substantially immediately deposited into. The substantially constantspace relates to the region between the upper side of the laterallyunsupported fibre sliver package 5 and the base surface 3 a of therotary plate 3 and produces a constant force pressure per depositedfibre sliver layer. The substantially constant space allows onlysubstantially constant room for fibre sliver 12 deposited for each fibresliver layer. A fibre sliver layer represents the amount of fibre sliver12 that is deposited onto the fibre sliver package 5 between a pair ofmovement turn-around points for the support plate 4 (that is to say fromone point at which the support plate 4 changes direction to the nextsubsequent point at which the support plate changes direction).Deposition of the fibre sliver 12 in the substantially constant spaceallows a substantially constant density of fibre sliver 12 at alllocations within the fibre sliver package 5, which promotes thestability of the fibre sliver package 5.

The substantially constant space formed by lowering the support plate 4(see arrow E in FIG. 1 a) is filled directly and immediately by thefibre sliver 12 constantly flowing in from the rotary plate 3. Duringsliver deposition, the upper side of the fibre sliver package 5 presses,with no spacing, against the base surface 3 a of the rotary plate 3 andagainst the base surface 9 a of the rotary plate panels 9. There isconstant contact. The deposited fibre sliver mass of the fibre sliverpackage 5 is pressed against the lower faces 3 a and 9 a as aconsequence of the resilience inherent in the fibre sliver 12 and as aconsequence of the biasing force of the displaceable support plate 4. Atthe same time, this results in pre-compaction of the fibre sliverpackage 5, which is advantageous for further discharge and furthertransport of the fibre sliver package 5.

FIG. 5 shows a fibre sliver package 5 a on a support plate 4 duringsliver deposition in the depositing area 10. Reference numeral 20denotes the carriage (guide device, holding device) which is movableback and forth horizontally. The fibre sliver package 5 a is displacedhorizontally in direction C, D of its longitudinal axis (see FIG. 1 a),that is to say in the direction of its long side faces. Parallel to andspaced apart from a side face 5 of the sliver package 5 a, there is afixed side wall 22 a which is independent of the carriage 20 andprevents any falling fibre material or the like from entering themachine. The length of the path g (see FIG. 1 b) (stroke length) isvariable by means of the motor 6 (see FIG. 4), so that the length a (seeFIG. 3 a) of the fibre sliver package 5 a is adjustable. Downstream ofthe depositing area 10 there is arranged the discharge region 11 inwhich a transport pallet 25 can be located. Two fibre sliver packages 5b, 5 c can be stored one next to the other on the pallet 25.

Referring to FIGS. 6 a and 6 b, an exemplary embodiment 4.1 of thesupport plate 4 is shown. Through-holes 4.1.1 can be arranged in the topface 4 ₁ of the support plate 4.1. A plate 23 can be arranged on theopposite side of support plate 4.1, and can include conical lugs havingtips 23.1. As shown in FIG. 6 a, the tips 23.1 can project through thethrough holes 4.1.1. The plate 23 can be raised and lowered in thedirection of arrows Q₁, Q₂ (FIG. 6 b) so that when the plate 23 islowered in direction Q₂ the tips 23.1 become disengaged from the holes4.1.1 according to FIG. 6 b. According to FIG. 6 a, the tips 23.1project through the holes 4.1.1 for a short time only at the start offibre sliver deposition, so that the first layer of fibre sliverdeposited is held on the regularly smooth top face 4 ₁ and does notslide off the top face 4 ₁. As soon as the layer of fibre sliver islying stably on the top face 4 ₁, the tips 23.1 are lowered out ofengagement in direction Q₂, so that at a later stage during dischargethe fibre sliver package 5 can slide down from the top face 4 ₁ withoutproblems.

FIGS. 7 a to 7 c show another exemplary embodiment of a support plate.According to FIGS. 7 a to 7 c, the top face 41 of the support plate 4.2can define longitudinal grooves 4.2.1. As shown in FIG. 7 b, elongatelifting rods 24 a, 24 b or the like can be inserted in direction R₁, R₂underneath the lower side of the fibre sliver package 5. In accordancewith FIG. 7 c, the lifting rods 24 a, 24 b can be raised in directionS₁, S₂, with the result that the lower side of the fibre sliver package5 is lifted away from top face 41 of the support plate 4.2, so that thesupport plate 4.2 can be displaced in direction W underneath the fibresliver package 5 and without frictional contact with the fibre sliverpackage 5 (see also FIG. 10 d).

According to FIG. 8, the support plate (hidden from view), together witha fibre sliver package 5 d, can be located in the discharge region abovethe top face 25 ₁ of the transport pallet 25. Transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the fibre sliver packages 5 b, 5 c, that is to sayin the direction of their short side or end faces 5 ₃, 5 ₄ (shown, e.g.,in FIGS. 3 a-3 c), the transport pallet 25 can be inclined at an angle αof, for example, approximately 7° to the horizontal. As shown in FIG. 8a, on the side face 25 ₂ of the transport pallet 25 close to the base,there can be mounted a supporting wall 26, for example, a smooth sheetmetal wall or the like. The supporting wall 26 can form an angle ofabout 90° with respect to the top face 25 ₁ of the transport pallet 25.As a result, the fibre sliver package 5 c can lean against the supportwall 26. The adjacent fibre sliver package 5 b can lean against theinclined fibre sliver package 5 c in contact therewith. By virtue oftheir inclination, the fibre sliver packages 5 b, 5 c are supportedstably on the transport pallet 25 and are secured against tipping overand the like. As also shown in FIG. 8 a, the smooth side wall 22 b isdisplaceable in the direction of arrows T₁, T₂, so that during thedischarge of the fibre sliver package 5 d troublesome frictional contactwith the stored fibre sliver package 5 b can be avoided. According toFIG. 8 b, there is shown an exemplary supporting element 98, forexample, a perpendicular supporting wall, which can be inclined by about5 to 10° in the horizontal direction about a pivot bearing 99, in orderto incline the discharged fibre sliver package 5 d against the storedand inclined fibre sliver package 5 b. One or more of the supportingwalls 22 b, 98 can be adapted to couple and decouple with the receivingsupport surface (hidden from view).

According to FIG. 9, an exemplary storage apparatus is shown in the formof a belt storage. A conveyor belt 29 endlessly circulates around twoguide rollers 28 a, 28 b driven by a motor 27. On the upper belt portion29 ₁ there are arranged, one after the other in direction U₁ and lyinghorizontally on the belt, an empty transport pallet 25 a, a transportpallet 25 b loaded with a fibre sliver package 5 c, and a transportpallet 25 c fully loaded with four fibre sliver packages 5 b, 5 c, 5 d,5 e. On one end face 252 of each transport pallet 25 a, 25 b, 25 c thereis mounted a supporting wall 26 a, 26 b, 26 c or the like, which can bearranged inclined at an angle β of about from 5° to 10°relative to thevertical. By virtue of the inclination of the supporting wall 26, thefibre sliver packages 5 b, 5 c, 5 d, 5 e can be positioned stably on thetransport pallets 25 b and 25 c. Each time a fibre sliver package S hasbeen unloaded onto the transport pallet 25 b, the upper belt portion 29₁ moves in direction U₁ by the width b (see FIG. 3 c) of a fibre sliverpackage 5. During or after the loading of the transport pallet 25 b, thealready full transport pallet 25 c can be transported away. Once thetransport pallet 25 b has been loaded with four fibre sliver packages 5,the upper belt portion 29 ₁ is moved in direction U₁ so that the fulltransport pallet 25 b moves into the position for being transported awayand the empty transport pallet 25 a moves into the (middle) position fordischarge of the fibre sliver packages 5. A fresh empty transport pallet(not shown) is then placed on the upper belt portion 29 ₁.

In accordance with FIG. 10 a, driven by the motor 6, in the course ofbeing discharged from the sliver-depositing area 10, a support plate 4,together with a can-less fibre sliver package 5 d, is moved horizontallyin direction I and arrives at a position spaced apart by distance habove the top face 25 ₁ of the transport pallet 25 (see FIG. 10′) and inparallel next to a fibre sliver package 5 c already being stored on thetop face 25 ₁, (FIG. 10 b). A holding-back element 27 is then displacedhorizontally in direction V₁ from a position outside the transportpallet 25 (FIG. 10 b) to a position in front of the end face 5 ₄ (seeFIG. 10 c) of the fibre sliver package 5 d (by a drive device not shown)and spaced apart by distance i above the top face 4 ₁ of the supportplate 4 (see FIG. 10′). Then, driven by the motor 6, the support plate 4is moved back alone, without the fibre sliver package 5 d, horizontallyin direction J beneath the holding-back element 27 (see FIG. 10 d). Inthe course of that movement in direction J, the fibre sliver package 5d, held in place by the holding-back element 27, slides off the smoothsurface 4 ₁ of the support plate 4, so that the fibre sliver package 5 dis removed from the support plate 4. At the same time, as shown in FIG.10 d, the fibre sliver package 5 d is deposited on the surface 25 ₁ ofthe transport pallet 25. The distance h between the lower face 4 ₂ ofthe support plate 4 and the upper side 25 ₁ of the transport pallet 25(see FIG. 10′) is small, so that when sliding off the support plate 4the fibre sliver package 5 d is lowered onto the transport pallet 25without problems. Finally, the holding-back element 27 is moved backhorizontally in direction V₂ (FIG. 10 e).

In the position according to FIG. 10 c, the support plate 4 can berotated (not shown) about its longitudinal axis through an angle ofabout from 5° to 10°, so that the fibre sliver package 5 d is inclinedin the direction towards and parallel to the side face of the deposited,inclined fibre sliver package 5 c. The rotation of the support plate 4assists the downward sliding movement of the fibre sliver package 5 dfrom the top face 4 ₁.

Alternatively (or additionally) a sheet metal wall or the like can beadapted to move horizontally into the region above the transport pallet25, and incline about its longitudinal axis, causing the fibre sliverpackage 5 d to incline in the direction towards and parallel to the sideface of the fibre sliver package 5.

According to FIG. 11, four can-less fibre sliver packages 5 a to 5 d arearranged one next to the other on the top face 25 ₁ of a transportpallet 25. The sliver end or the end of the last ring of fibre sliver ofa top layer (top face 5 ₅) is joined to the sliver end or the end of thefirst ring of fibre sliver of a base layer (base surface 5 ₆) ofadjacent fibre sliver packages. In the example shown in FIG. 11, thesliver end of the last ring of fibre sliver of the top layer (top face 5₅) of fibre sliver package 5 a is joined to the sliver end of the firstring of fibre sliver of the base layer (base surface 5 ₆) of fibresliver package 5 b. The same applies to the sliver ends and the joiningtogether thereof in respect of the further fibre sliver packages 5 c and5 d. In that way, by joining together the sliver ends, a single totalfibre sliver package comprising a plurality of individual fibre sliverpackages 5 a to 5 d is created. When supplied to and worked off onsliver-fed machines (e.g., those shown in FIGS. 15 to 17 and 19 to 21),all fibre sliver packages of the total fibre sliver package, beginningwith the top layer (top face 55) of fibre sliver package 5 d, can beworked off one after the other in a single operation and withoutinterruptions.

In accordance with FIG. 12, there is a fork-lift truck 31 fortransporting the transport pallet 25 with fibre sliver packages 5 a to 5d arranged on its top face 25 ₁. Transverse to the direction of thelongitudinal axis of the fibre sliver packages 5 a to 5 d (e.g.,parallel to the short end faces of the fibre sliver packages 5 a to 5d), the transport pallet 25 can be inclined at an angle γ to thehorizontal. The correspondingly inclined forks 32 of the fork-lift truck31 can engage under the transport pallet 25 transverse to thelongitudinal axes of the fibre sliver packages 5 a to 5 d. The sidefaces of the fibre sliver packages 5 a to 5 d and the supporting wall 26can be inclined at an angle relative to the vertical. The bundle 5′comprising fibre sliver packages 5 a to 5 d can be supported stably fortransport and secured against slipping, tipping over or the like, forexample, by virtue of its being inclined relative to the vertical, itsleaning against the supporting wall 26, and its being supported abovethe centre of gravity of the bundle 5′ or its having a low centre ofgravity below the supporting means.

The exemplary configuration of FIG. 13 can use the fork-lift truck 31 ofFIG. 12, or a similar transport vehicle. Transport pallet 25 supportsfibre sliver packages 5 a to 5 d. Transport pallet 25 can be inclined byan angle δ transversely with respect to the direction of thelongitudinal axes of the fibre sliver packages 5 a to 5 d. The forks 32a, 32 b of the fork-lift truck (not shown) can engage under the fibresliver packages 5 a to 5 d in the direction of their longitudinal axes.The forks 32 a, 32 b are rotatable about a common longitudinal axiswhich extends in the longitudinal orientation thereof.

Referring to FIG. 14, six draw frames 1 a to 1 f, for exampleTrützschler TD 03, can be arranged in a row one next to the other. Alattice 35 (feed table) can be located at the inlet of each draw frame 1a to 1 f. Each lattice 35 can have six round cans 36. Reference numbers35 and 36 are shown for draw frame 1 a only. Each set of six round cans36 can supply six fibre slivers to be drafted to the drafting system 2(see FIG. 1 a) of a respective draw frame 1 a to 1 f. At the outlet ofeach draw frame 1 a to 1 f, can-less fibre sliver packages 5 areproduced in the respective depositing area 10 (see, e.g., FIGS. 1 a, 1b, 2, and 5). The draw frames 1 a to 1 f can be both sliver-fed andsliver-delivering spinning machines. After the outlet of each draw frame1 a to 1 f there can be a respective storage device 30 a to 30 f, towhich, from one side, the can-less fibre sliver packages 5 produced inthe draw frame 1 a to 1 f are discharged and in which the can-less fibresliver packages 5 are stored on transport pallets 25. On the respectiveother side and along the storage devices 30 a to 30 f there can bearranged a rail guide 37 on which (in accordance with the example shownin FIG. 14) two driven transport vehicles 38 a, 38 b are moved back andforth in the direction of arrows W₁, W₂. The storage devices 30 a to 30f can be positioned so that they lie in a common path with the transportvehicles 38 a, 38 b. At an end region of the rail guide 37 (for example,in the region to the right of the storage device 30 f in FIG. 14) therecan be arranged, transversely with respect to the rail guide 37, aconveyor device 39 (e.g., a roller conveyor, conveyor belt or the like)for transport pallets 25 loaded with fibre sliver packages 5 (fullpallets). There can also be a second conveyor device 40 (e.g., a rollerbelt, conveyor belt or the like) for empty transport pallets 25. Theconveyor device 39 leads to a press 41 having a binding device 42,downstream of which there can be arranged scales 43 and a labellingdevice 44. After that there can be provided a further conveyor device 45for forwarding and transporting the bound fibre sliver packages 5, whichcan consist of a bundle 5′ of a plurality of individual fibre sliverpackages.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the transport vehicle 38 acarries two transport pallets 25 a, 25 b each having a bundle 5′, 5″ offour can-less fibre sliver packages 5, the transport pallets 25 a, 25 bhaving been conveyed out of the storage device 30 a and loaded onto thetransport vehicle 38 a. Accordingly, in the storage device 30 a thereare two empty storage positions for two empty transport pallets 25′. Ineach of the storage devices 30 b to 30 e there are two empty transportpallets 25′ for receiving can-less fibre sliver packages 5 or bundles5′. In the storage device 30 f, two empty storage positions for twoempty transport pallets 25′ are shown. On the transport vehicle 38 bthere can be arranged two empty pallets 25′, 25″. In operation, thetransport vehicle 38 a can travel to one end of the conveyor device 39,where pallets 25 a, 25 b, holding bundles 5′, 5″, are loaded one afterthe other and forwarded to the press 41 in the direction of arrow X. Atthe press 41, the bundles 5′, 5″ can be provided with base and coverboards (not shown), for example of corrugated cardboard, fibreboard orthe like, pressed, bound, removed from the transport pallets 25, anddischarged onto the conveyor device 45 in the form of bound bundles. Theempty transport pallets 25′ separated from the bundles 5′, 5″ can beconveyed by means of a cross-conveyor 46 to the conveyor device 40 fromwhere they are loaded in direction Y onto one of the transport vehicles38 a or 38 b.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 15, at the inlet ofa draw frame 1, for example a Trützschler TD 03, there can be arranged afeed table 35 (lattice) which can be associated with two transportpallets 25 a, 25 b. Four independent can-less fibre sliver packages 5.1to 5.4 are stably arranged one next to the other on the transport pallet25 a, and four independent can-less fibre sliver packages 5.5 to 5.8 arestably arranged one next to the other on the transport pallet 25 b. Thefibre sliver packages 5.1 to 5.8 can be worked off individually. Forexample, in the case of four fibre sliver packages 5.1 to 5.4 and 5.5 to5.8 on transport pallets 25 a and 25 b, respectively, there can be fourworking-off points in each case. The draw frame 1 can be supplied witheight fibre slivers (cf. the fibre slivers 82 in FIG. 20). Such anarrangement can create a space-optimised version.

In accordance with FIG. 16, upstream of the inlet of the draw frame 1,for example a Trützschler TD 03, there can be arranged the feed table 35(lattice) which can be associated with eight transport pallets 25 a to25 h. On each transport pallet 25 a to 25 h there can be stably arrangedone next to the other four can-less fibre sliver packages, for examplefibre sliver packages 5.1 on transport pallet 25 a. In accordance withthe exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the packages 5.1 are joinedto one another by their sliver ends. In that way, the fibre sliverpackages on a transport pallet, for example fibre sliver packages 5.1 ontransport pallet 25 a, are unwound one after the other withoutinterruption, bringing the advantage of long sliver run lengths. Wherethere are four fibre sliver packages on each transport pallet, the runtime for a total fibre sliver package is quadrupled. Such an arrangementcan optimize efficiency.

Reverting to FIG. 14, the draw frames 1 a to 1 f shown there may besliver-fed and sliver-delivering spinning machines, and instead of beingsupplied with round cans 36, each lattice 35 may be supplied withcan-less fibre sliver packages 5, for example in the manner shown inFIG. 15 or 16.

Referring to FIG. 17, the apparatus according to the invention can beused in so-called direct spinning. The method of automating the yarnproduction process, especially in spinning mills having rotor-spinningmachines, can advantageously be based on the use of can-less fibresliver packages having elongate cross-sections. Such a fibre sliverpackage can be precisely and stably positioned on an elongated support(e.g., support 25 described previously) in a selected operating positionof the rotor-spinning machine by readily available means. The automaticprocess of yarn production can be controlled by a control centre 50which determines the appropriate time for exchange of the supports, forexample, transport pallets 25, under the spinning positions of therotor-spinning machines 51 a to 51 d. For example, the control centre 50can operate on the basis of the sum of two logic signals. The logicsignals can represent, for example, the reaching or exceeding of apredetermined spinning time of a spinning position, so that the spinningoperation can be interrupted at that spinning position. To optimise theprocess of exchanging the supports 25, the control centre 50 can draw onthe knowledge of information relating to the pure spinning time of theindividual spinning positions since the last exchange of the supports 25of the spinning position in question.

As the loading station for the supports 25, the spinning mill can haveat least one flat card 52 a to 52 c, for example a Trützschler TC 03.Each flat card can contain an integrated drafting system 53 a to 53 c,for example a Trützschler IDF, and a rotary plate 54 a to 54 c. Eachflat card 52 a to 52 c can be associated with a storage device 55 a, 55b, 55 c for transport pallets loaded with fibre sliver packages, and forempty transport pallets. The storage devices 55 a, 55 b, 55 c can be inthe form of belt storage means, for example, in the manner shown in FIG.9. Between the rotor-spinning machines 51 a to 51 d and the storagedevices 55 a to 55 c there can be installed in the plane of the floor ofthe spinning mill an induction loop 56. The signals from the controlcentre 50 and the reactions of the sensors from and/or to at least oneautomatically controlled transport carriage 57 can be transmitted by theinduction loop. The transport carriage 57 can have at least onetransport pallet 25 for each of the can-less fibre sliver packages 5.Reference numeral 58 denotes an intermediate storage means (buffer) fortransport pallets having can-less fibre sliver packages and for emptytransport pallets. The rotor-spinning machines 51 a to 51 d aresliver-fed spinning machines.

FIG. 18 shows the flat card 52, for example, a Trützschler flat card TC03, as a sliver-delivering spinning room machine, having a feed roller60, feed table 61, lickers-in 62 a, 62 b, 62 c, cylinder 63, doffer 64,stripper roller 65, nip rollers 66, 67, web guide element 68, web funnel69, delivery rollers 70, 71, and revolving card top 59. Downstream ofthe outlet of the flat card 52, there can be arranged asliver-depositing device 72, in which the rotating rotary plate 54 islocated in a rotary plate panel 73, above which there is arranged thedrafting system 53, for example, a Trützschler IDF. The fibre sliver 74produced by the flat card 52 can pass by way of a sliver funnel throughthe drafting system 53, through a sliver funnel with delivery rollers,then through the sliver channel of the rotary plate 54, and isultimately deposited in the form of a can-less fibre sliver package 5 ona support plate 4. The support plate 4 can be moved back and forthhorizontally in directions A, B during deposition. The support plate canbe lowered in direction E after each stroke. The fibre sliver package 5can be stably positioned in a manner corresponding to that shownpreviously, for example, in FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, and 4.

FIG. 19 shows a flyer 75 (a sliver-fed spinning room machine) having aspindle and spool device 76, a flyer drafting system 77, and an upstreamfeed table 35 (lattice). Beneath the lattice 35 there are four can-lessfibre sliver packages 5 a to 5 d, the fibre sliver packages 5 a, 5 bbeing stably positioned on a transport pallet 25 a and the fibre sliverpackages 5 c, 5 d being stably positioned on a transport pallet 25 b.

Referring to FIG. 20, a combing preparation machine 80 (a sliver-fed andsliver-delivering spinning room machine) has two feed tables 35 a, 35 b(lattice) arranged parallel to one another. The combing preparationmachine also has six transport pallets 251 to 256 carrying stablypositioned can-less fibre sliver packages 5 ₁ to 5 ₆ (only 5 ₁ shown)being arranged beneath the feed table 35 a, and six transport pallets 25₇ to 25 ₁₂ carrying stably positioned can-less fibre sliver packages 5 ₇to 5 ₁₂ (not shown) being arranged beneath the feed table 35 b. The feedtables 35 a, 35 b can have a guide pulley 81 above each of the fibresliver packages 5 ₁ to 5 ₁₂. The fibre slivers 82 withdrawn from thefibre sliver packages 5 ₁ to 5 ₁₂, after being guided by the guidepulleys 81, can pass into two drafting systems 83 a, 83 b of the combingpreparation machine 80. The drafting systems 83 a, 83 b can be arrangedone after the other. From the drafting system 83 a, the fibre sliver webthat has been formed is guided over the web table 84 and, at the outletof the drafting system 83 b, laid one on top of the other with the fibresliver web produced therein. The two fibre sliver webs are drawn into adownstream drafting system 83 c, and the fibre material produced in thedrafting system 83 c is deposited, using a downstream rotary plate 84,in rings on a substantially rectangular support plate 4 which is movableback and forth in the longitudinal direction to form a can-less fibresliver package 5. The fibre sliver package 5 can be stably positioned ina manner corresponding to that shown previously, for example, in FIGS. 1a, 1 b and 4. The can-less fibre sliver package 5 can then be suppliedto a combing machine (see FIG. 21).

Referring to FIG. 21, a combing machine 90 has six combing heads 91 a to91 f arranged in a row one next to the other. Each combing head 91 a to91 f can be associated with a transport pallet 25 ₁ to 25 ₆, there beingtwo of the can-less fibre sliver packages 5 ₁ to 5 ₁₂ (only 5 ₁illustrated) stably positioned on each transport pallet 25 ₁ to 25 ₆.The fibre slivers that have been deposited in rings are withdrawn fromthe fibre sliver packages 5 ₁ to 5 ₁₂ which, when seen in plan view, aresubstantially rectangular. For that purpose, above the fibre sliverpackages 5 ₁ to 5 ₁₂ there is a lattice framework 93 with guide pulleys(see FIG. 20). The fibre slivers 92 are combed in the combing heads 91 ato 91 f and supplied by way of the sliver table 94 to a drafting system95, in which the fibre slivers 92 are combined to form a single fibresliver 96. In the down-stream sliver deposition step, a rotary plate 97deposits the fibre sliver 96 in ring form in the form of a can-lessfibre sliver package 5 on a substantially rectangular support plate 4which is movable back and forth in the longitudinal direction. The fibresliver package 5 can be stably positioned in a manner corresponding tothat shown previously, for example, in FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, and 4. Thecan-less fibre sliver package can then be supplied to a spinning machineor a storage means.

The afore-mentioned components, as well as the fibre sliver packages 5,can be provided singly or multiply, as required. The component namesused herein are not to be interpreted in the narrow sense of the words,but are to be understood as being synonyms for a certain kind of machineor system component. For example, in the context of the presentinvention the term “draw frame” represents one or more sliver-deliveringor sliver-producing machine(s). The fibre sliver packages 5 have asubstantially rectangular shape in the configurations shown. Variouskinds of spinning machines can be used as sliver-fed (sliver-processing)spinning machines, for example, ring-spinning or open-end spinningmachines, but also draw frames, flyers, combing preparation machines orcombing machines, which are supplied with fibre slivers for theproduction of fibre structures (roving, wound lap, fibre sliver, yarn).For the explanation in FIG. 17, an open-end spinning machine has beenchosen solely as an exemplary embodiment. The particular construction ofthe storage devices is, in principle, also of no significance for thepresent invention; in principle, a storage position for the fibre sliverpackages 5 is sufficient for that purpose. The fibre sliver packages 5produced in the draw frame 1 are preferably arranged as a group on asupport by means of which they are always transported back and forth asa complete unit between the individual components of the system.According to the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 14 and 17, aplurality of transport vehicles can be provided, each of which is ableto receive a group of can-less fibre sliver packages 5 in the form of aunit, which it conveys from the (sliver-delivering or sliver-producing)draw frame 1 to a sliver-processing or sliver-consuming textile machinefor further processing or to intermediate storage. In the exemplaryembodiments shown in FIGS. 14 and 17, the transport vehicles are in theform of automatic units, the drive means of which are not shown forreasons of clarity of the drawings, which can travel along a pathbetween the individual components of the system. The term “path” or“track” is not to be understood in the narrow sense of the word; it isintended also to include infrared or ultrasonic guide means or the like.If the transport vehicle is steered manually, the term “path” alsoincludes any kind of route along which the transport vehicle is or canbe transported.

In spinning, cans, also called spinning cans, are hollow bodies(containers) which can be used for the deposition, housing, and removalof fibre slivers. The cans can be forwarded, transported, stored, andsupplied. Such cans can be in the form of rectangular cans enclosed onall sides by walls, that is to say having four side walls and a basewall, with the exception of the open upper side, which is used as afilling and removal opening for the fibre sliver. In contrast, theinvention relates to can-less fibre sliver packages 5, that is to saythere are no cans, containers or the like for the fibre sliver. Thefibre sliver is deposited, withdrawn, forwarded, stored and supplied inthe form of a can-less fibre sliver package 5.

The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification areintended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known tothe inventors to make and use the invention. Nothing in thisspecification should be considered as limiting the scope of theinvention. All examples presented are representative and non-limiting.The above-described embodiments of the invention may be modified orvaried, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by thoseskilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore tobe understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described.

1. An apparatus in a spinning room for transporting a fibre sliverpackage comprising a support for receiving a can-less sliver package,the support being substantially unenclosed, wherein; the support istransportable to a sliver package delivery station selected from asliver-delivering machine and a first sliver package storage station forreceiving at least one sliver package; the support with said at leastone sliver package is transportable to a sliver package receivingstation selected from a sliver-fed machine and a further sliver packagestorage station; and the apparatus is so arranged that the at least onesliver package is stably positioned during transport thereof.
 2. Anapparatus according to claim 1, in which the support is a transportpallet.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the fibre sliverpackage is displaceable from the first storage station or from thesliver package delivery station onto the support.
 4. An apparatusaccording to claim 3, in which, after the displacement of a fibre sliverpackage, the support is movable in a lateral direction for receiving afurther fibre sliver package.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 3, inwhich more than one fibre sliver package is displaceable onto thesupport.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the number offibre sliver packages on the support corresponds to the number of fibresliver packages to be supplied to a downstream processing device.
 7. Anapparatus according to claim 1, in which the support has a supportingelement mounted on one side.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, inwhich the supporting element is so positioned that it can support a sideface of a first fibre sliver package received on the support.
 9. Anapparatus according to claim 7, in which the supporting elementcomprises a supporting wall, rods or transport belts.
 10. An apparatusaccording to claim 7, in which the supporting element consists of, or iscoated with, a material that promotes sliding.
 11. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, in which the support is inclinable.
 12. Anapparatus according to claim 1, in which the support has on itsunderside insertion openings for transport apparatus and/or for couplingto transport apparatus.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, in whichthe support is a transport pallet, which has slots or guide means intowhich drive elements of a fork-lift truck are able to enter.
 14. Anapparatus according to claim 1, in which the support has at least onereserve storage position for deposited fibre sliver packages.
 15. Anapparatus according to claim 1, in which the support loaded withdeposited fibre sliver packages is exchangeable for a support providedwith empty storage positions.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising a transport apparatus for carrying the support loadedwith at least one stably positioned fibre sliver package to a furthertextile machine or to a magazine.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 1,in which displacement of the fibre sliver packages onto and off thesupport is effected by pushing.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 1,in which a sliver end of a first fibre sliver package is joinable to asliver end of a second fibre sliver package.
 19. An apparatus accordingto claim 1, in which, in respect of the fibre sliver package, thedischarge out of the machine and/or the transport to a subsequentprocessing device or storage means is effected without cans orcontainers for the sliver.
 20. An apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising a conveying apparatus for transporting the supportfor the sliver package(s).
 21. An apparatus according to claim 1, inwhich the transported fibre sliver packages are can-less.
 22. Anapparatus according to claim 1, in which the fibre sliver packages areelongate in cross-section.
 23. An apparatus according to claim 3,further comprising a support structure for stably supporting the fibresliver package(s) during displacement.
 24. An apparatus according toclaim 24, in which the support structure is arranged to support thefibre sliver package(s) at or above the centre of gravity thereof. 25.An apparatus according to claim 7, in which the support can be elevatedon a side remote from the supporting element.
 26. An apparatus accordingto claim 7, in which the support can be elevated on a side remote fromthe supporting element, such that a fibre sliver package is inclinedagainst the supporting element or support structure and/or against afurther fibre sliver package, thereby transferring the sliver packageinto a stable position.
 27. A textile processing installation,comprising at least one sliver delivering machine, at least one sliverreceiving machine and a transport arrangement for transporting fibresliver packages from the sliver delivering machine to the sliverreceiving machine, the transport arrangement comprising a support forreceiving at least one fibre sliver package, the support having alateral member against which at least a sliver package adjacent to thelateral member can be inclined, wherein, during transport, at least onefibre sliver package on the support is stably supported against thelateral member.
 28. A textile processing installation according to claim27, wherein the support is inclined such that the at least one fibresliver package on the support is inclined against the lateral member.